Just dont do it. I wouldn't recommend either. Thats how vigorously we de-grease guns before starting blueing. Thanks, 8 years ago Alternatively, You could store them in a hard case (like a pelican with a purge) and throw some desiccant packs in there as well. Not only does it give you an alchemical feeling of satisfactionbut it also gives the metal a finish to stop corrosion. Once the solution reaches its boiling point, turn down the burner to about one-third of the boiling temperature and let it stay there. 3.3k. "url": "https://shootingmystery.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/How-to-Blue-Stainless-Steel-in-5-Easy-Steps.jpg" ", That seems wasteful. After spending most of his career as a firearms expert and enthusiast, he retreated to the great outdoors to raise his family in peace and quiet. Another good test for determining when the steel is ready is seeing if a magnet sticks to its surface. Following the treatment in the bluing tank, relocate the components to a cold water tank. They should start gassing up approximately 2 to 3 minutes after exposure. It is hazardous. Ive dealt with strong acids and strong bases in lab work, and I fear the strong bases more. We have all kinds of rifles and shotguns with recievers made from non-Fe alloys again we do not give it a second though or break out the hardness tester. I wasnt planning on doing it for a few months. Alternatively, you can press the pad of steel wool between your hands over the container of acetone, and then put it on some paper towels to dry. I think I was drinking heavily (and likely doing stupid things in my shop with high heat and flammables at the time, possibly while juggling chainsaws) at the time I made that comment - without reading carefully. I learned something slightly different than what you are teaching and that is I am willing to pay people like you to do this kind of stuff for me. Gas burners can usually do the job for this. It is named after the blue-black appearance of the resulting protective finish. 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If you drop a piece of paper in there, or hydrocarbon compounds (like oil or grease on your part). Ferrari installs valve seats in their aluminum cylinder heads via robot. Below is a link to a video I found on YouTube that shows the process. If everything appears good, then you can transfer the components into a hot water tank. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. I ended up with some spots where the browning did not take, and a few dull spots, most of which I was able to buff out with steel wool soaked with gun oil. You are nitre blueing here. This method was adopted by larger firearm companies for large scale, more economical bluing. To heat this, I use a Coleman camp stove and a 15# jug of LPG gas. Do all the prep you would for express or rust blueing, especially degreasing. Then remove it from the degreaser, don't be tempted to wipe it off with anything. This finish allows them to be stored in high-moisture conditions, like sports bags, without rusting. Heating up a tank on the kitchen stove. When youre done and have neutralized & washed off the Express Blue #1 solution, you then should spray down the barrel with water-displacing oil. The ideal setup is a pair of long sleeve gloves along with splash goggles and a face mask. Glad that there are folks like you around. "image": { Add the two together and you have what is akin to rocket fuel in your face a way of oxidizing almost any organic material with insufficient water for cooling into a furious flame. You should put the brass drift (which you can make out of a piece of brass rod about 1/4 in diameter) on the sight base, and then start tapping the end of the drift with a small hammer. List Price: $18.64 $18.64. Blue Metal Shell 13 in 1 Welding Torch Nozzle Tip Cleaner For Welder Soldering. Reply Although the steel parts, such as anOrdains watch hands, are near enough miniscule, each This is not advisable. This is not necessary as long as you can hold your item appropriately and not cover where it is to be heated. Water is great for rapidly quenching the hot metal, but it could cause thin steel to distort or crack. Metal Finishing Guru. 1/16-inch pivot wire has a circumference of ~0.2in. Drift the sights back in from the right side of the barrel. What I forgot to mention in all of this is a detail that seems mundane, but it critically important: Wear cotton gloves. Probably the main one is the content of so-called "carbon, "I was looking at making a set of plate armor and I wanted to see how to harden the breastplate. "headline": "How to Blue Stainless Steel in 5 Easy Steps: Complete Guide", Its oiled in production to keep it from rusting on store shelves. Let them cool down as you take a closer look at the bluing effect. -Something to hold your piece with, make sure it's appropriate to hold it with so it doesn't get too hot in your hands. Get it Feb 25 - 27. To harden steel, start by heating the metal directly with a blow torch until it turns a cherry red color. "name": "Shooting Mystery", I didnt drop outta my mommas womb being able to do this stuff. Once you see it turn golden, the process has started and colours will change fairly quickly! OK, now with the sights out and the trigger group off, you can put on the rust/blue remover on the barrel/action. Heat source You will require at least one burner for bluing salts and two hot water burners. Wear safety glasses and gloves while working with hot metal. Keep heating the steel until you notice a blue color form on the metal. Mark the sharpened edge with a crayon. By the time I was done it looked like it was a beat up 5 year old gun rather than a 1930s bolt .22 that came from a scrap yard. The head is fixtured and and an arm holding the valve seat moves the the proper location. Knowledge is the power and fear is the opposite of power it cripples the mind and the body and almost always guarantee's a poor decision will be made. If you have a wood or phenolic handle, use a propane torch to heat the blade only for about two minutes. Also remember, by adjusting the heat you can get whatever color you want. The difference is immersion in boiling water for bluing. . Even at room temperature, the salts are highly caustic and will eat into your eyes or skin in seconds not minutes. Also buffing wheels pre blue. Wear thick gloves so you dont burn yourself. -2x containers (one of them preferably being metal for the oil), -unleaded petrol/Acetone/Terpentine/Rubbing alcohol or any good degreaser, -metal object/s (I used mild steel, Please note this method should NOT be used on tempered/hardened steel as you will effect the properties of the metal). It had been thoroughly degreased before my first attempt, but in trying to repair a poor result, I apparently contaminated it a bit. ", the wrong quality steel. The de-greasing you do directly affects the uniformity of the browning or blueing. I use kerosene to wet my paper from 500 on up. How to Blue (Bluing) Steel Using Oven Or Torch and Oil Method OOMAN 2.28K subscribers Subscribe 872 112K views 4 years ago My apologies for the background 99. For this reason, it is considered not to add any appreciable thickness to precisely-machined gun parts. If the magnet doesnt stick, its ready to be pulled away from the heat. If you cant, just get them out of the case and allow air to circulate around them. (And taking, out of *your* hide). -something to hold your object with i.e. Is the torch used to heat metal ..ONLY.with Cold bluing? Bluing is a process usually used by gun owners and firearms manufacturers to improve the aesthetic value of their weapons. Ill go into parkerization later this week. Why do you bother with all this crap?. Im not responsible for marital discord as a result of gun projects attempted on the kitchen stove. I wish this article had come out sooner, since I did not know that 0000 steel wool may have oil in it. The "turning blue" process has nothing to do with hardening of the steel, or its compression. That surface rust on the barrel could be polished off easily. I am using bronze, is it for a polish? Ill be buying the stainless tubs and chemicals to do it and go for as close to black as I can get. Here is a simple way to get a blued finish on steel. Its a good process for processing lots of guns, but I simply cannot recommend it for people who just want to do a gun here or a gun there.. Its nice when something can be re-used a time or two, especially when used in diversified ways. Not blessed with a climate controlled safe. It can soften up some paints and plastics. Cold blues will react with steel at room temperature, but you get more aggressive reactions when you heat the gun to, oh, 150 to 200F. Im talking like 90+ minutes to heat the salt bath to 285F. Theres a reason I didnt pursue a career in chemistry. You MUST plug your barrels, gas cylinders, remove your pistons, etc. But the article was very informative. These include hot bluing, cold bluing, niter bluing, and so on. Next you hold it in front of your heat source until a blue oxide layer covers the whole blade edge. Tenifer get's up to (1077F) last I checked and was the 5th step in Glock heat treating after that they Pakerize it. My dad keeps his in a big safe with large desiccant packs that he threw in there. When youre done, attach the thermometer to the tank and fire up the burner. Treating with an oiled coating enhances the protection offered by the bluing. Fill a heat-safe container with water or oil deep enough to submerge your steel. Heating will make the metal better in absorbing the bluing liquid. Follow the instructions. I pulled the temp off the top of my head. Youre a gunsmith who has a lot of nice guns! 2mm wire has a circumference of ~0.25in. Quenched steel is harder, but it becomes more brittle. 4. Once you get the colour you want, go outside to your oil container and fully quench your object into the oil!Note: I know a plastic container is You can then u. se a soft brush to gently remove all the residue of the cleaning solution on the components. Heres instructions from Mark Lee Supplies on using their Express Blue #1. That said, heres the truth: The best blueing you can have on a gun is simple, safe to do, but takes a long time. In place of using a hot bath (although at a lower temperature) chemically induced method, it is possible through controlling the temperature to heat steel precisely such as to cause the formation of black oxide selectively over the red oxide. I thought there was something that could help improve the colors but wasnt sure until I came across this. This answer was tested with a utility knife blade and it drilled through with ease. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Posted December 21, 2009. Cold blueing is OK for touchups, at best. Stand on end over some paper towels to drain. Red rust is Fe2O3, and is incomplete rust it will continue allowing the surface to corrode over time hence the oil or wax. Never know when it will come in handy. It is generally employed on smaller parts such as pins, screws, sights, etc. However, there are certain characteristics differences between the materials so knowing clearly how to blue stainless steel is really important. Use ice cubes. I dont use hot salt blueing because much of my work is on older double guns, which have ribs that are soft-soldered into place. Then, you can put the components back into the bluing tank and increase the temperature until you see the blued steel. The tank of distilled water you heat with a camp stove, the kitchen stove (Im not responsible for marital discord and disruptions of conjugal relations) or some other much larger heat source to a boil. Wear disposable nitrile gloves, work in adequate ventilation, bag and dispose of all rags/towels used in the process in their own bags, and quickly. Once it's cooled down, take the object out of the oil and place it on a piece of paper/cloth and let it set for about 20 minutes. Only 3 left in stock - order soon. this article statement Ive used this method in a pinch to make a tap from a cheap mild steel bolt to chase out galled female threads. You then oil or wax over the finish when youre done. Use a steel tool to stir (remember the fumes). It costs an arm and a leg, and you can buy 0000 so cheaply at Wally World that it makes the acetone method worth your while. I saw you reference a coleman stove and propane tank for heating solution. 2. The use of stainless steel alloy varies a lot from one manufacturer to the other and thats why the bluing effect wont always be consistent. The wire is extremely small in diameter, so you have to take that into consideration. 3 years ago. You might be able to start at 320 grit. 5. Above you can see some example pictures of the colour shades that can be achieved with this techniques.Have fun doing it! Step 3: Suspend the components in the bluing solution tank, However, if the bluing effect isnt satisfactory, then you can try giving the components an acid bath (using, Step 4: Rinse the components in a cold water tank then transfer them to a hot one, Step 5: Submerge the components in a tank filled with water displacing oil, Address: 4455 Camp Bowie Blvd, Ste 114 #852, Fort Worth, TX 76107. Then wipe off all excess oil and look at your beautiful finished object! I believe the change of color is due to a growing thickness of an oxide layer. Alternitavely you can leave it in the oil bath to stabilize. Interesting and informative as always. There are also methods of cold bluing, which do not require heat. Just let any residual matter evaporate/dry. Go on and start bluing! How do I harden a steel hammer so that is lasts longer and is more durable? It's worth noting that there can be some additives in motor oil that release hydrocarbons when burnt which is a known carcinogens to the body (in other words: Bad Stuff!). You should keep guns in a safe, if you can. When Im polishing on barrels, I polish lengthwise. . You might need two applications to clean up more deeply rusted spots. Free shipping. When youre using hot blueing salts, youd better be on top of your game, or you can seriously injure yourself. Friction, as from holster wear, quickly removes cold bluing, and also removes hot bluing, rust, or fume bluing over long periods of use. Hardened steel prevents knife blades from dulling and tools from bending and breaking. For larger pieces of steel, you need to use a. There are many simple ways to achieve good bluing. The steel was mild steel and had very little carbon content. Historically, razor blades were often blued steel. When the liquid stops bubbling, remove the metal from the container and wipe off any excess liquid. My apologies for the background noise in the first half of the video We had compressors running where I This heating forms the blue on the plate. Pour in My current rifle builds are going to be parkerzied. The thickness of the oxide is a function of how hot you heat the steel (The color is due to interference of light reflecting from the surface of the oxide coating, and light reflecting from the oxide-steel interface). Prepare the components of the metal surface before you attempt to blue using your tools. Picture Information. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Every true outdoorsmans dream! This item: Special Blue Full Metal Butane Torch (Gold) - Refillable Flame Lighter- Culinary Torch - Welding Torch - Adjustable Dual Flame for Desserts, Creme Brulee, BBQ and Baking. Any more advice is welcome SteelJunkee Joined May 6, 2018 Messages 891 I think DGs method is a lot safer than mine. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). 2. "url": "https://shootingmystery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Shootinglogo.png" Fume bluing is another process similar to rust bluing. "Bluing" is the process of oxidizing steel to create a durable, corrosion-resistant layer. It cannot rust any further. The blue appearance of the oxide film is also used as an indication of temperature when tempering carbon steel after hardening, indicating a state of temper suitable for springs. So As one newish to refined firearms ownership, what is the best way to store and protect a pistol or rifle from rusting, especially in areas like Oregon or Washington, Silicon socks, or ? For modern uses of black oxide, see, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "How To Remove Rust From A Gun Without Damaging Bluing? "datePublished": "2022-03-27", The inside barrel was saved by the fact it was so full of lead fouling. I really appreciate you taking the time to share it DG. Above you can see some example pictures of the colour shades that can be achieved with this techniques. In the automotive world this is a common practice. Most knives, rifle receivers and barrels are heated to at least 1200F and cooled and drawn at 490F-700F. Reply This is an alternative method for creating the black oxide coating. How to Blue Bluing Steel Using Oven Or Torch and Oil Method. This step should be done before heating the steel, as the steel should be quenched immediately after removing from heat. LOGIX 20910 Butane Torch, Cooking Torch, Torch for Creme Brulee, Refillable, 9.6 oz, Blue Steel . The actual temperature of the steel depends on the carbon content inside. Heat the Steel. "logo": { tighter your arc, the less the heat input will be. It also looks good on AK type weapons of which I have three to park. But since this was my first project, with an inexpensive kit as a learning tool, and as I intend to do this again with a much more expensive kit, my trials and errors and your voice of experience will be very useful the next time around. When you add water to a hot salt tank, you get an explosion of steam, and you need to develop some skill in adding the water with a very fine copper pipe on your water hose to prevent steam blow-outs spattering salts all over you. Then, use a pair of tongs to carry the steel to a container filled with water or vegetable, and submerge the hot metal in the liquid. High temperatures and dangerous chemicals mean that a moment of carelessness can make you pay a heavy price. You can get a IR non-contact thermometer for less than $20 at Harbor Freight. 2. For the process your metal should be nicely polished for the best results.The more shinier the polish the more your end result will glow. I can' Just dont. Frequent TTAG commenter Dyspeptic Gunsmith saw the gun above in our postA Garden Gun Cultivates a Newfound Fascinationand answered reader questions about blueing/reblueing a gun thusly: If the rust is very fine and there is still substantial blueing left on the gun, you might want to strip the blueing. Drop a piece of hot charcoal in it and it will burn in the absence of any atmosphere as the nitrate provides the oxygen for the reaction. Remove the bolt & trigger group this might require a pin punch on some guns to pull the trigger group.From what little I can see in the picture here . It repeats the process adn by the time the head moves on to the next station all the parts are seated presumably for the life of the head. I found through my bluing adventure that different oils do act slighty different but ultimately everything I've used has done the job. This process leaves a deep blue-black finish. Some people might not have a tank long enough to contain a barreled action to boil out. Often it does provide an adequate cosmetic touch-up of a gun's finish when applied and additionally oiled on a regular basis. In literally 10 seconds on a buffing wheel incorrectly applied, I could screw that up to a point where it might take be eight+ hours of hand polishing to recover my prior results. Either that or the steel wool. Should something happen, seek medical help right away. You have a degreased gun, and now you need to get the metal hot enough that the reaction will oxidize the steel as much as possible. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Polish to at least 400 grit. Spilling salts at this temperature will instantly result in fire, because the KNO3 is a powerful oxidizer all on its own, and the added thermal energy will light anything on fire all alone. The reason why blued guns rust is that something was allowed to attack the surface blueing and get through it to new steel or the blueing job wasnt deep enough to complete passivate the surface from red rust. You want to be in the range of 600 to 650F. Turn the heat on and give a good regular stirring until it gets very hot and starts to steam. Heat the area you'd like to drill just until it starts to glow red, then allow it to cool slowly. Add in the 250F+ temperatures of the salts when they hit your skin, and youre both burned thermally and chemically in seconds. And for the next (after the next) installment, how to do hard case coloring. of the steel than do not even try this on something that is anything other than artistic in nature! Cold blues will react with steel at room temperature, but you get more aggressive reactions when you heat the gun to, oh, 150 to 200F. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Fill the tank with a suitable amount of water then add in the bluing salt using the correct ratio. You work on nice guns! Bluing is a passivation process in which steel is partially protected against rust using a black oxide coating. Instead of applying the acid solution directly to the metal parts, the parts are placed in a sealed cabinet with a moisture source, a container of nitric acid and a container of hydrochloric acid. 3. Now you can start.Apply heat to your object and heat up gently and equally. As I'm bluing round pieces I slowly and evenly rotate the piece over Technically speaking, bluing is more or less a conversion of red iron oxide (Fe2O3) to black iron oxide (Fe3O4). It, too, must be oiled to provide any significant rust resistance. Dont pour water in to your bath! Youll get a dark spot right there. Brand: Logix. With HSS you're looking for 2500-3000rpm, M35 or M42 cobalt bits 3000-3600rpm, and carbide 10k-12krpm. Dont scrub the solution onto the gun, just run a patch that is not dripping wet down one complete run on the barrel/action in one smooth stroke. WebThe gun bluing process Start with 1 gallon of water and add it to a deep fryer that has been thoroughly cleaned. "I have very limited knowledge as to how metal can be manipulated for different applications. COPYRIGHT 2021, THETRUTHABOUTGUNS.COM. It would be a good idea to get some gloves on. I wouldnt use this bluing method for these items. Initially case hardening was used but did not offer any aesthetics. Also Dont get the 275-300F bath on you. The hot washing soda tank typically used in gunsmith shops is caustic washing soda, and if you leave the gun in long enough, youll start to see corrosion on the gun before you get to the blueing step. You need to constantly be adding in a bit of water to bring the boiling point back down into the range you need. This will remove all the traces of the bluing solution and other chemicals. you could also heat this size tank with anything from a hibatchi up to a Weber charcoal grill or you could put it on top of a wood-burning stove or even a kitchen stove.